6: Interesting list. Tell us, what’s the one thing you’d most like people
to know about you?

That I like tattoos and piercings.

7: No that is interesting. Okay, tell us about your current novel, where we
can find it?

It is called Out of the Shade and here's the blurb: Faeries that carry katanas and guns instead
of sprinkling magic dust and granting wishes. Dragons that reanimate the dead.
Drug-crazed goblins terrorizing neighborhoods. Illegal demons attempting to
conjure the alter ego of an Egyptian goddess.

Sounds like something out of a
nightmare, right? Wrong. It’s my everyday life.

Welcome to the Shade, where all the
creatures of myth hang out and where I, Detective Gabrielle Tate of the
Supernatural Task Force, police them. My partner is AWOL and my sexy dragon
boss is leaving nothing to chance as we deal with goblins high on Escape and a
serial killer—or worse, a nest of rogue vampires—leaving the drained corpses of
faeries and cops all over town.

And then there’s the psychotic
demons trying to conjure the goddess Hathor’s alter ego, Sekhmet, to destroy
humanity. As a faery and direct descendent of Hathor, I’m eager to manifest her
power and use it to combat evil. At the same time, I need to learn how to
control the accompanying bloodlust. How? By taking lessons from the charismatic
leader of the local vampire clan, of course.

8: Wow, intriguing storyline. Here’s a question I’m
often asked. Do you
have any tips for aspiring authors?

The cliche write what you know isn't applicable if
you are writing Urban Fantasy lol. You
can apply what you know to virtually any other genre - (erotica writers are
always exhausted - giggle snort - sorry I couldn't pass that up), but you know
what I mean. A better tip would be write about something that you like or love
actually because the research and time you spend plotting can either make you
love your subject or develop a love/hate relationship with it.

Also, write every day, be it a journal or diary
entry, a chapter, plots anything. It keeps your mind and your imagination going
so you don't develop writers block.

9: Great advice. Another question people want to
know.Do you base your characters on real-life people?

Yes, I do - human nature and our various quirks or
physical appearances make us the perfect creatures.

10: A question I’m always curious about. How did you
come up with the idea for this book?

I've always be intrigued
by faeries, dragons, Egyptology and Urban Fantasy. In 1993 when I read Laurell
K. Hamilton's Guilty Pleasures - she is my idol by the way - I was hooked and
my Muse began churning the wheels and not letting me sleep or concentrate.

11: I’ve experienced that. But when Muse speaks, we
have to listen. So tell us, what
are you currently working on?

Book 2 of The Shade Series - researching the
Egyptian Underworld and writing down ideas that I have for children's books.
I'm also taking an online Magic for writer's class through one of my online
groups by Rayne Hall

12. Is
there anything else you’d like us to know about you?

I speak Spanish, I like to laugh and do so loudly;
usually punctuated with a snort.

13.
Where can we find you? Website? Blog?

Luckily my day job (an IT
technician) allows for breaks where I can check my email - diane_barr@ymail.com, twitter(DianeBarr1), facebook and update my blog; I'm working on my website - I have a kick ass
template made in Adobe flash - so I'm teaching myself adobe flash as I go. ;)

Excerpt:

What looked like lightning bugs blinked all around the yard. A small breeze caressed me with the smell of lavender and I could hear the tinkle of the stream as I kicked off my boots, pulled off my socks, and threw down my weapons. I willed my wings from my back being careful not to trip over them, which I have been known to do on occasion.

The cool grass felt so good on my feet. I went and lay in my usual spot. Lavender bushes around me, one foot in the stream the other foot wiggling my toes through the grass. From the shadows, gnomes, pixies, ivy elves, and grape vine sprites approached me. The blinking lightning bugs were the garden fairies welcoming me home.

Hi lionmother!Thank you for reading and I do! I have one tattoo and plan on three more based on the logo I'm making for shirts and pens and piercings I have many - 2 in my nose1 in the belly button5 mircodermals behind my left ear 10 earrings in my left ear4 in my rightand as soon as I get rid of my muffin top I'd like dermals around my belly button.Thank you for asking!!!Diane

Join me at

About Me

As the second youngest of six children, I always had a vivid imagination and loved to make up stories. I often sat and daydreamed about imaginary characters and lost myself in books and make-believe worlds.
My love of writing began as a teenager, but only recently pursued it seriously. With encouragement from fellow book-club members, NEORWA and my husband, I began writing and submitting my work.
Although Satin Sheets was my first published novel, I have over forty articles and stories published in magazines such as Good Old Days, Nostalgia, and Ohio Writer along with several online publications.
Besides teaching three writing courses for Long Story School of Writing, I taught a writing course at Cuyahoga Community College.
In my spare time, I enjoys spending time with my six children, fourteen grandchildren and great grandchildren. My hobbies include ceramics, knitting, quilting, and jewelry making. But after my family, my first love is writing. I reside with my husband of forty-eight years in Northeast Ohio. You can visit my website at: http://www.roseannedowell.com